Page 20 of Logan
Darcy throws us both a look and walks off. Kenzie heads to the far end of the bar.
Shaina’s stare is pointed enough to feel. “What?” I ask.
“You need to stay the fuck out of here if all you’re gonna do is act like an asshole. I like Mac. We were really good friends before everything got fucked up.”
I glance at Kenzie again, still moving behind the bar, still avoiding me. “I don’t know what to do, Shay. I can’t be around her without wanting her, but I know I need to stay far away from her.”
“Why is that, Logan?” She leans in, her eyes searching mine.
“I can’t get into that right now. Let me ask you something, though. What’s with everyone calling her Mac?”
Shaina shrugs. “It’s what she asked us to call her. Unlike some people, I respect her enough to do what she wants.” She watches me like she’s trying to pull the truth out without me saying it. “Ifyou’d just talk to someone about whatever’s going on, maybe we could help you. It’s pretty clear you still love her, and her feelings are still there too. None of this shit makes any sense to me.”
“Sorry, sis. I’ll stay away and make it easier on both of you.”
I walk toward the door, but not before taking one last look at her.
Chapter Ten
Mackenzie
I lose my balance on these eggshells
You tell me to tread, I'd rather be a wild one instead
- ‘Wild Things’ Alessia Cara
I have been working at Ambrosia for about a week and it’s been great. Logan hasn’t been in since the first night, which I’m thankful for. Watching him take Darcy to the back room and knowing what that meant gutted me. I almost walked out but I knew that was what he wanted.
That night is burned into my brain like a brand I can’t scrub out. The way she had looked at me, smug and triumphant. The way he hadn’t even spared me a glance as they disappeared together. It had been a calculated move and knowing it didn’t make it hurt any less.
Darcy has been giving me hell ever since that night and I can’t fucking stand her. Mainly because she is disgusting and has a shit attitude on top of it, but also because of Logan. Every interaction with her feels like she is rubbing salt into an open wound.
I am walking around Main Street today, hoping to drown my sorrows with some new shit. The air smells faintlyof coffee from the café down the block and the faint tang of leather from the biker shop next door. I have been making a lot more money than I thought I would, enough that splurging feels justified. Retail therapy might not fix everything, but at least it keeps me from spiraling.
Walking out of Chaos, I run into some guy who was walking and playing on his phone. The impact is enough to make me take a step back.
“Shit, sorry.” He looks at me as he is picking up his phone.
I smile back at him. “All good, I wasn’t really watching where I was going either.”
“Not gonna lie, I’m not that sorry because it gave me an excuse to talk to you.”
My brows lift slightly. Oh. I’m not even sure how to react to that. He’s cute, with shaggy brown hair that falls over his forehead, and a tall, muscular build that suggests he works with his hands.
“So, is there any way you might want to grab some lunch with me?” He glances at me and flashes a smile that is easy and confident.
I smile back at him. “Sure, I don’t have work until later tonight.”
We stop at a burger place with red vinyl booths and the faint scent of grilled onions hanging in the air. Lunch is actually really nice. I haven’t been on a date in what feels like forever, and it’s almost strange to have someone look at me without an edge of history or resentment in their eyes.
When lunch is over, I have learned that Nathan is newer to town because he has family that lives here. He isworking construction and is super sweet, the kind of guy who probably calls his mom once a week without fail.
Nathan walks me out to my car. “So you said you were working tonight and I don’t think I found out what you do yet.”
“I work at Ambrosia.” I watch the recognition cross his face. “I’m a bartender.” I laugh, knowing exactly what he thought I did. “Lunch was great, give me a call sometime.”
I hop into my car knowing that I never gave him my phone number. He was nice enough, but I just didn’t feel that pull toward him. It’s the pull I feel every time Logan is near me, that raw magnetic pull that feels like it could be the end of me if I let it.
